Automatic password reset using a security system

ABSTRACT

A system and method for modification of a passcode for accessing the system are provided. The system includes a premises control unit. The premises control unit including control processing circuitry configured to: receive an expected code message, the expected code message instructing an initiation to monitor for an input from a user, receive a input code that is input by the user, determine whether the input code matches a predefined verification code, and if the input code matches the predefined verification code, cause transmission of a verification message to a monitoring server, the verification message indicating the input code matched the predefined verification code and triggering the monitoring server to allow a passcode for accessing the system to be modified.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.Utility patent application Ser. No. 15/903,487, filed on Feb. 23, 2018,entitled AUTOMATIC PASSWORD RESET USING A SECURITY SYSTEM, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/463,284,filed Feb. 24, 2017, entitled “AUTOMATIC PASSWORD RESET USING A SECURITYSYSTEM,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to premises systems, and in particular to amethod and system for modifying a passcode for accessing a system.

BACKGROUND

The demand for systems that monitor homes and businesses for alarmconditions has continued to grow as more home and business owners seekto protect their premises from various hazards and threats. Examplesinclude intrusion, fire, carbon monoxide and flooding, among otherdangers that may be monitored and reported to a monitoring station. Whena sensor such as a motion detector is triggered, a representative at aremote monitoring center receives an alarm event code and initiates aresponse process, including contacting a homeowner or others on acontact list and/or first responders such as local firefighters and/orpolice to request a dispatch to investigate the event at the premisesbeing monitored. These systems further extend into the home automationfield by monitoring and controlling home automation based devices in andaround a premises. Examples include monitoring and/or controlling athermostat, lighting, appliances, etc.

These systems are typically professionally monitored in which mobile andweb interfaces are provided for customers to interact with theirrespective premises system, along with allowing customers to view/paybills and view security alarm and other related account information.Such access is secured by a password or code known to the customer.However, when this password is lost or forgotten, the customer may berequired to call or access a website that allows for automated resettingof the password. One common way to verify the customer has authority tochange or reset the password is for the automated service to ask thecustomer three previously customer-defined questions and answers. Theproblem with this verification mechanism is that data has shown that theanswers to these questions are forgotten nearly as often as thepassword, thereby leading to more frustration as the customer has noalternative but to call the monitoring service center to talk to aperson in order to change the password, which is a time-consumingprocess.

Another method for resetting the password is to send a temporarypassword to the customer's known email address. The problem with thisand other methods is that allowing the customer to reset their passwordtoo easily, using information that is readily accessible in socialmedia, leads to insecure access to their security system and accountinformation by unauthorized individuals. On the other side, while makingthe password reset process too cumbersome may increase security, such aprocess may frustrate customers as they are given no opportunity toreset their passwords on their own and are forced to call to have theirpasswords reset.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments advantageously provide a method and system formodifying a passcode of a premises system.

According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a system is provided. Thesystem includes a premises control unit. The premises control unitincludes control processing circuitry configured to: receive an expectedcode message, the expected code message instructing an initiation tomonitor for an input from a user, receive a input code that is input bythe user, determine whether the input code matches a predefinedverification code, and if the input code matches the predefinedverification code, cause transmission of a verification message to amonitoring server, the verification message indicating the input codematched the predefined verification code and triggering the monitoringserver to allow a passcode for accessing the system to be modified.

According to one aspect of this embodiment, the predefined verificationcode is received in the expected code message. According to one aspectof this embodiment, the premises control unit further includes a memoryconfigured to store the predefined verification code before receipt ofthe expected code message. According to one aspect of this embodiment,the predefined verification code is numerical code. According to oneaspect of this embodiment, the predefined verification code correspondsto one of a premises arm code and premises disarm code.

According to one aspect of this embodiment, the control processingcircuitry is configured to: if the input code does not match thepredefined verification code, cause a premises device to display apredefined message, the predefined message indicating that the inputcode does not match the predefined verification code. According to oneaspect of this embodiment, the system further includes a server. Theserver includes server processing circuitry. The server processingcircuitry is configured to: receive a passcode modification requestmessage, and in response to receiving the passcode modification requestmessage, cause transmission of the expected code message to the premisescontrol unit. The passcode modification request message indicates arequest has been made to modify the passcode for accessing the system.According to one aspect of this embodiment, the server processingcircuitry is further configured to: receive the verification messagefrom the premises control unit, and in response to receiving theverification message: cause transmission of an acceptance message, andallow the passcode for accessing the system to be modified. Theacceptance message indicates the request to modify the passcode foraccessing the system has been accepted.

According to one aspect of this embodiment, the system is a premisessecurity system. The input code that matches the predefined verificationcode that corresponds to a premises arm code and/or premises disarm codefor the premises security system. According to one aspect of thisembodiment, the processing circuitry is further configured totemporarily prevent arming and/or disarming of the premises securitysystem in response to receiving the expected code message or temporarilydisable the premises security system in response to receiving theexpected code message. The received input code fails to arm and/ordisarm the premises security system.

According to one embodiment of this disclosure, a method for a system isprovided in which an expected code message is received. The expectedcode message instructs an initiation to monitor for an input from auser. An input code that is input by the user is received. Adetermination is made whether the input code matches a predefinedverification code. If the input code matches the predefined verificationcode, transmission of a verification message to a monitoring server iscaused. The verification message indicates the input code matched thepredefined verification code and triggering the monitoring server toallow a passcode for accessing the system to be modified.

According to one aspect of this embodiment, the predefined verificationcode is received in the expected code message. According to one aspectof this embodiment, the predefined verification code is stored beforereceipt of the expected code message. According to one aspect of thisembodiment, the predefined verification code is numerical code.

According to one aspect of this embodiment, the predefined verificationcode corresponds to one of a premises arm code and premises disarm code.According to one aspect of this embodiment, if the input code does notmatch the predefined verification code, a premises device is caused todisplay a predefined message. The predefined message indicates that theinput code does not match the predefined verification code. According toone aspect of this embodiment, a passcode modification request messageis received. The passcode modification request message indicates arequest has been made to modify the passcode for accessing the system.In response to receiving the passcode modification request message,transmission of the expected code message is caused. According to oneaspect of this embodiment, the verification message is received. Inresponse to receiving the verification message: transmission of anacceptance message is caused, and allow the passcode for accessing thesystem is allowed to be modified. The acceptance message indicates therequest to modify the passcode for accessing the system has beenaccepted.

According to one aspect of this embodiment, the system is a premisessecurity system. The input code that matches the predefined verificationcode that corresponds to a premises arm code and/or premises disarm codefor the premises security system. According to one aspect of thisembodiment, the processing circuitry is further configured totemporarily prevent arming and/or disarming of the premises securitysystem in response to receiving the expected code message or temporarilydisable the premises security system in response to receiving theexpected code message. The received input code fails to arm and/ordisarm the premises security system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of embodiments described herein, and theattendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 an exemplary system for performing passcode reset using apremises system in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary verification process ofverification code in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary modification process ofmodification code in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary signaling diagram of system in accordance withthe principles of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is an exemplary signaling diagram of another embodiment of thesystem in accordance with the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The instant disclosure advantageously recognizes that approximately 66%of customers who call a monitoring center or the automated monitoringcenter system to have their passcodes reset do so from their home wherethe premises system, i.e., premises control unit and premises devices,is installed. The instant invention advantageously incorporates thesecurity panel of a premises system, in one or more embodiments, that islocated at the premises as part of the methodology to reset thepassword. For example, the instant invention advantageously uses twoaspects for verify user trying to reset the password: (1) the user mustknow something only an authorized person would likely know such as thesecurity system PIN for arm/disarming, and (2) the user must have accessto a system component that only a person who is authorized to reset thepassword would likely have access to such as the security panel keypadof the premises system at the premises.

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments that are in accordancewith the disclosure, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarilyin combinations of system/device components and processing steps relatedto a system and method for resetting a passcode using a premises system.Accordingly, components have been represented where appropriate byconventional symbols in drawings, showing only those specific detailsthat are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the disclosure soas not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readilyapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of thedescription herein.

As used herein, relational terms, such as “first,” “second,” “top” and“bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity orelement from another entity or element without necessarily requiring orimplying any physical or logical relationship or order between suchentities or elements. The terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting of the concepts described herein. As used herein, the singularforms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms aswell, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be furtherunderstood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or“including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features,integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It willbe further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted ashaving a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context ofthis specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted inan idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In embodiments described herein, the joining term, “in communicationwith” and the like, may be used to indicate electrical or datacommunication, which may be accomplished by physical contact, induction,electromagnetic radiation, radio signaling, infrared signaling oroptical signaling, for example. One having ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate that multiple components may interoperate andmodifications and variations are possible of achieving the electricaland data communication.

Referring now to drawing figures in which like reference designatorsrefer to like elements there is shown in FIG. 1 an exemplary system forperforming passcode reset using a premises system in accordance with theprinciples of the disclosure and designated generally as “10.” System 10includes premises system 11 including premises control unit 12 andpremises device 14 a-14 n (collectively referred to as premises device14) located in and/or proximate premises 16, in communication with eachother via one or more communication protocols, links and/or channels. Inone or more embodiments, premises system 11 is a premises securitysystem. Premises device 14 a-14 n may include sensors, control panels,control devices, images capture devices, life safety devices, life styledevices and/or other devices. For example, the types of sensors mayinclude various life safety related sensors such as motion sensors, firesensors, carbon monoxide sensors, flooding sensors and contact sensors,among other sensor types that are known in the art. The control devicesmay include, for example, one or more life style related devicesconfigured to adjust at least one premises setting such as lighting,temperature, energy usage, door lock and power settings, among othersettings associated with the premises or devices on the premises. Imagecapture devices may include digital cameras and/or video cameras, amongother image capture devices that are well known in the art.

System 10 further includes one or more devices 18 a-18 n (collectivelyreferred to as device 18) and one or more servers 20 a-20 n incommunication with each other via one or more communication protocols,links and/or channels. Devices 18 a-18 n may include mobile device,wireless device, computer, laptop and other device capable of performingdevice 18 functions described herein. Premises control unit 12 includescommunication interface 21 for communicating with at least one of one ormore premises device 14, device 18 and server 20. In one or moreembodiments, communication interface 21 includes or is replaced bytransmitter circuitry and receiver circuitry for transmitting andreceiving signals and/or data.

Premises control unit 12 includes control processing circuitry 22. Insome embodiments, control processing circuitry 22 may include aprocessor 23 and memory 24, memory 24 containing instructions which,when executed by processor 23, configure processor 23 to perform the oneor more functions described herein such as the process described withrespect to FIG. 2. In addition to a traditional processor and memory,control processing circuitry 22 may comprise integrated circuitry forprocessing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processorcores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs(Application Specific Integrated Circuitry).

Control processing circuitry 22 may comprise and/or be connected toand/or be configured for accessing (e.g., writing to and/or readingfrom) memory 24, which may comprise any kind of volatile and/ornon-volatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (RandomAccess Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memoryand/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). Such memory 24may be configured to store code executable by control circuitry and/orother data, e.g., data pertaining to communication, alarm conditions,etc. Control processing circuitry 22 may be configured to control any ofthe methods described herein and/or to cause such methods to beperformed, e.g., by processor 23.

Corresponding instructions may be stored in memory 24, which may bereadable and/or readably connected to the control processing circuitry22. In other words, control processing circuitry 22 may include acontroller, which may comprise a microprocessor and/or microcontrollerand/or FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) device and/or ASIC(Application Specific Integrated Circuit) device. It may be consideredthat control processing circuitry 22 includes or may be connected orconnectable to memory, which may be configured to be accessible forreading and/or writing by the controller and/or control processingcircuitry 22. Memory 24 is configured to store verification code 26 forperforming the verification process described in detail with respect toFIG. 2.

In one or more embodiments, servers 20 a-20 n provide at least one ofmonitoring of premises control unit 12 and/or premises devices 14,storage (database functions) of account information associated withpremises control unit 12, storage of data (database functions)associated with premises control unit 12, and other functions associatedwith monitoring and/or configuration of premises control unit 12 and/orpremises devices 14. Server 20 includes communication interface 28 forcommunicating with at least one of one or more devices 18, premisescontrol unit 12 and other devices in system 10. In one or moreembodiments, communication interface 28 includes or is replaced bytransmitter circuitry and receiver circuitry for transmitting andreceiving signals and/or data.

Server 20 includes server processing circuitry 30. In some embodiments,the server processing circuitry 30 may include a processor 32 and memory34. Memory 34 contains instructions which, when executed by processor32, configure processor 32 to perform the one or more functionsdescribed herein such as the process described with respect to FIG. 3.In addition to a traditional processor and memory, server processingcircuitry 30 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and/orcontrol, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/orFPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application SpecificIntegrated Circuitry).

Server processing circuitry 30 may comprise and/or be connected toand/or be configured for accessing (e.g., writing to and/or readingfrom) memory 34, which may comprise any kind of volatile and/ornon-volatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (RandomAccess Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memoryand/or

EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). Such memory 34 may beconfigured to store code executable by control circuitry, data, premises16 account information, premises control unit 12 data and/orconfiguration, billing information, etc. Server processing circuitry 30may be configured to control any of the methods described herein and/orto cause such methods to be performed, e.g., by processor 32.Corresponding instructions may be stored in the memory 34, which may bereadable and/or readably connected to server processing circuitry 30. Inother words, server processing circuitry 30 may include a controller,which may comprise a microprocessor and/or microcontroller and/or FPGA(Field-Programmable Gate Array) device and/or ASIC (Application SpecificIntegrated Circuit) device. It may be considered that server processingcircuitry 30 includes or may be connected or connectable to memory,which may be configured to be accessible for reading and/or writing bythe controller and/or server processing circuitry 30. Memory 34 isconfigured to store modification code 36 for performing the modificationprocess described in detail with respect to FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary verification process ofverification code 26 in accordance with the principles of the invention.The verification process advantageously verifies that an input codematches a predefined verification code, thereby allowing a user tomodify a passcode for accessing system 10. Control processing circuitry22 receives an expected code message (Block S100). In one embodiment,control processing circuitry 22 may receive an expected code messagefrom server 20 in which the expected code message instructs aninitiation to monitor for an input, e.g., input code, to be input by auser. In one or more embodiments, the expected code message may includea predefined verification code that is used to verify that the correctinput code, discussed below, has been entered. In one or moreembodiments, the predefined verification code is a numerical code oralphanumeric code. In one or more embodiments, the predefinedverification code may be defined or generated randomly by server 20. Inone or more embodiments, the predefined verification code may be definedby a user for storage at premises control unit 12 and/or server 20. Inone or more embodiments, the predefined verification code may correspondto a premises arm code and/or a premises disarm code.

Control processing circuitry 22 receives an input code that is input bythe user (Block S102). For example, in one or more embodiments, theinput code may be entered into premises device 14 such as a controlpanel with keyboard. Control processing circuitry 22 determines whetherthe input code matches the predefined verification code (Block S104). Inone or more embodiments, the predefined verification code may bereceived within the expected code message. In one or more embodiments,the predefined verification code may be stored in memory 24 beforereceipt of the expected code message. If control processing circuitry 22determines the input code matches the predefined verification code,control processing circuitry 22 causes transmission of a verificationmessage to server 20 (S106). In one or more embodiments, theverification message may indicate that the input code matched thepredefined verification code and may trigger server 20 to allow apasscode for accessing system 10 to be set or modified. In one or moreembodiments, accessing system 10 may include accessing and/or modifyingdata, records, billing, account(s), etc. stored at server 20 that arelinked or associated with premises control unit 12 and/or premisesdevices 14. In one or more embodiments, accessing system 10 may includeaccessing premises control unit 12 functionality and/or accessing and/ormodifying data stored at premises control unit 12 via server 20 ordirectly via premises control unit 12.

In one or more embodiments, premises system 11 may be a premisessecurity system where the input code that matches the predefinedverification code corresponds to a premises arm code and/or premisesdisarm code for the premises security system. In one or moreembodiments, processing circuitry 30 may be further configured totemporarily prevent arming and/or disarming of the premises securitysystem in response to receiving the expected code message or temporarilydisable the premises security system in response to receiving theexpected code message, where the received input code fails to arm and/ordisarm the premises security system.

If control processing circuitry 30 determines the input code does notmatch the predefined verification code, the verification process mayend. Alternatively, the determination of Block S100 may be repeated.Alternatively, control processing circuitry 22 may cause premises device14 to display a predefined message where the predefined messageindicates that the input code does not match the predefined verificationcode. For example, control processing circuitry 22 may transmit apredefined message to control panel 14 a such as to cause or instructcontrol panel 14 a to display the message. In one or more embodiments,control processing circuitry 22 may transmit a predefined message todevice 18 such as to cause or instruct device 18 to display the message.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary modification process ofmodification code 36 in accordance with the principles of the inventionfrom the perspective of server 20. The modification process may initiatethe verification process described in FIG. 2, and also advantageouslymay allow for modification of the passcode for accessing premises system11 and/or accessing system 10 based on the results of the verificationprocess. Server processing circuitry 30 receives a passcode modificationrequest message (Block S108). In one or more embodiments, the passcodemodification request message may indicate a request has been made tomodify a passcode for accessing system 10. Server processing circuitry30 causes transmission of the expected code message to premises controlunit 12 (Block S110). For example, in one or more embodiments, inresponse to receiving the passcode modification request message, serverprocessing circuitry 30 may cause transmission of the expected codemessage to premises control unit 12.

Server processing circuitry 30 receives the verification message frompremises control unit 12 (Block S112). Server processing circuitry 30causes transmission of an acceptance message (Block S114). In one ormore embodiments, the acceptance message may indicate that the passcodemodification request message has been accepted. Server processingcircuitry 30 allows modification of the passcode for accessing system 10(Block S116). For example, in one or more embodiments, in response toreceiving the verification message, server processing circuitry 30 maybe configured to cause transmission of an acceptance message and mayallow modification of the passcode for accessing system 10. In one ormore embodiments, accessing system 10 may include accessing and/ormodifying data, records, billing, account(s), etc. stored at server 20that are linked or associated with premises control unit 12. In one ormore embodiments, accessing system 10 may include accessing premisescontrol unit 12 functionality and/or accessing and/or modifying datastored at premises control unit 12 via server 20 or directly viapremises control unit 12.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary signaling diagram of system 10 in accordance withthe principles of the invention. Server 20 receives a passcodemodification request message from device 18 (Block S108). Server 20transmits an expected code message to premises control unit 12 (BlockS110). Server 20 transmits input code message to device 18 (Block S118).Input code message is configured to cause device 18 to indicate to theuser a predefined verification code to input into a specific premisesdevice 14 such as control panel 14 a. The indication at device 18 mayinclude at least one of an audio and visual indication of the predefinedverification code. Control panel 14 a determines the input code has beeninput into control panel 14 a (Block S120). Premises control unit 12receives the input code from control panel 14 a (Block S102). Premisescontrol unit 12 determines whether the input code matches the predefinedverification code (Block S104).

Premises control unit 12 transmits verification message to server 20 ifthe input code matches the predefined verification code (Block S106). Ifthe input code does not match the predefined verification code, premisescontrol unit 12, in one or more embodiments, transmits a predefinedmessage that causes or triggers device 18 to notify the user of device18 to reenter the input code received in the expected code message(Block S122). In one or more embodiments, the predefined message may betransmitted to control panel 14 for display. If the input code matchesthe predefined verification code, server 20 may transmit an acceptancemessage. The acceptance message may indicate that the passcodemodification request message has been accepted. Server 20 allowsmodification of the passcode for accessing premises system 10 such asvia device 18 (S116). In one or more embodiments, accessing system 10may include accessing and/or modifying data, records, billing,account(s), etc. stored at server 20 that are linked or associated withpremises control unit 12. In one or more embodiments, accessing system10 may include accessing premises control unit 12 functionality and/oraccessing and/or modifying data stored at premises control unit 12 viaserver 20 or directly via premises control unit 12.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary signaling diagram of another embodiment of system10 in accordance with the principles of the invention. Blocks S108,S110, S118, S120, S102, S114 and S116 are described above with respectto FIG. 4. In this embodiment, server 20 may perform the determinationas to whether the input code matches the predefined verification code.For example, premises control unit 12 transmits the input code that wasinput by a user via control panel 14 a, to server 20 (Block S124).Server 20 determines whether the input code matches the predefinedverification code (Block S126). If server 20 determines the input codematches the predefined verification code, server 20 may perform blocksS114 and S116. If server 20 determines the input code does not match thepredefined verification code, in one or more embodiments, server 20transmits a predefined message that causes or triggers device 18 and/orcontrol panel 14 to notify the user to reenter the predefinedverification code received in the expect code message (Block S128). Inone or more embodiments, predefined message may be transmitted to otherdevices capable of displaying the predefined message.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the conceptsdescribed herein may be embodied as a method, system, server and/orpremises control unit. Accordingly, the concepts described herein maytake the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely softwareembodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects allgenerally referred to herein as a “circuit” or “module.” Furthermore,the disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on anon-transitory tangible computer usable storage medium having computerprogram code embodied in the medium that can be executed by a computer.Any suitable tangible computer readable medium may be utilized includinghard disks, CD-ROMs, electronic storage devices, optical storagedevices, or magnetic storage devices.

Some embodiments are described herein with reference to flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, systems and computerprogram products. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer (to therebycreate a special purpose computer), special purpose computer, or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such thatthe instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer orother programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable memory or storage medium that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

It is to be understood that the functions/acts noted in the blocks mayoccur out of the order noted in the operational illustrations. Forexample, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executedsubstantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed inthe reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.Although some of the diagrams include arrows on communication paths toshow a primary direction of communication, it is to be understood thatcommunication may occur in the opposite direction to the depictedarrows.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the conceptsdescribed herein may be written in an object oriented programminglanguage such as Java® or C++. However, the computer program code forcarrying out operations of the disclosure may also be written inconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer. In the latter scenario, theremote computer may be connected to the user's computer through a localarea network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection maybe made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet usingan Internet Service Provider).

Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connectionwith the above description and the drawings. It will be understood thatit would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe andillustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments.Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/orcombination, and the present specification, including the drawings,shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of allcombinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein,and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shallsupport claims to any such combination or subcombination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that theembodiments described herein are not limited to what has beenparticularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unlessmention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all ofthe accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modificationsand variations are possible in light of the above teachings withoutdeparting from the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for modification of a passcode foraccessing the system, the system comprising a premises control unit anda server, the premises control unit supporting communication with theserver: the premises control unit comprising: control processingcircuitry configured to: receive an expected code message, the expectedcode message instructing an initiation to monitor for an input from auser; receive an input code that is input by the user; determine whetherthe input code matches a predefined verification code; and if the inputcode matches the predefined verification code: cause transmission of averification message to the server, the verification message indicatingthe input code matched the predefined verification code and triggeringthe server to allow a passcode for accessing the system to be modified;and the server including server processing circuitry configured to:grant access to a first information stored at least in part in theserver after the passcode for accessing the system is modified, thefirst information being associated with the premises control unit. 2.The system of claim 1, wherein the predefined verification code isreceived in the expected code message.
 3. The system of claim 1, thepremises control unit further comprising a memory, the memory configuredto store the predefined verification code before receipt of the expectedcode message.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the predefinedverification code is numerical code.
 5. The system of claim 1, whereinthe predefined verification code corresponds to at least one of apremises arm code and a premises disarm code.
 6. The system of claim 1,wherein the control processing circuitry is configured to: if the inputcode does not match the predefined verification code, cause a premisesdevice to display a predefined message, the predefined messageindicating that the input code does not match the predefinedverification code.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the serverprocessing circuitry is further configured to: receive a passcodemodification request message, the passcode modification request messageindicating a request has been made to modify the passcode for accessingthe system; and in response to receiving the passcode modificationrequest message, cause transmission of the expected code message to thepremises control unit.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the serverprocessing circuitry is further configured to: receive the verificationmessage from the premises control unit; in response to receiving theverification message, cause transmission of an acceptance message, theacceptance message indicating the request to modify the passcode foraccessing the system has been accepted; and allow the passcode foraccessing the system to be modified.
 9. The system of claim 1, whereinthe system is a premises security system; and the input code thatmatches the predefined verification code corresponding to at least oneof a premises arm code and a premises disarm code for the premisessecurity system.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processingcircuitry is further configured to temporarily prevent at least one ofarming and disarming of the premises security system in response toreceiving the expected code message or temporarily disable the premisessecurity system in response to receiving the expected code message; andthe received input code failing to at least one of arm and disarm thepremises security system.
 11. A method for a system for modification ofa passcode for accessing the system, the system comprising a premisescontrol unit and a server, the premises control unit supportingcommunication with the server, the method comprising: receiving anexpected code message, the expected code message instructing aninitiation to monitor for an input from a user; receiving an input codethat is input by the user; determining whether the input code matches apredefined verification code; if the input code matches the predefinedverification code: causing transmission of a verification message to aserver, the verification message indicating the input code matched thepredefined verification code and triggering the server to allow apasscode for accessing the system to be modified; and granting access toa first information stored at least in part in the server after thepasscode for accessing the system is modified, the first informationbeing associated with the premises control unit.
 12. The method of claim11, wherein the predefined verification code is received in the expectedcode message.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing thepredefined verification code before receipt of the expected codemessage.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the predefined verificationcode is numerical code.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein thepredefined verification code corresponds to one of a premises arm codeand a premises disarm code.
 16. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: if the input code does not match the predefined verificationcode, causing a premises device to display a predefined message, thepredefined message indicating that the input code does not match thepredefined verification code.
 17. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: receiving a passcode modification request message, thepasscode modification request message indicating a request has been madeto modify the passcode for accessing the system; and in response toreceiving the passcode modification request message, causingtransmission of the expected code message.
 18. The method of claim 17,further comprising: receiving the verification message; in response toreceiving the verification message, cause transmission of an acceptancemessage, the acceptance message indicating the request to modify thepasscode for accessing the system has been accepted; and allow thepasscode for accessing the system to be modified.
 19. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the system is a premises security system; and theinput code that matches the predefined verification code corresponds toone of a premises arm code and a premises disarm code for the premisessecurity system.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:temporarily prevent at least one of arming and disarming of the premisessecurity system in response to receiving the expected code message ortemporarily disable the premises security system in response toreceiving the expected code message; and the received the input codefailing to at least one of arm and disarm the premises security system.